, and kissed them passionately, while the rest
of the company came slowly back into the room.

"Then he'll live, doctor?" whispered the gentleman the others had
addressed as Jem.

"I hope so. He is sleeping easily now. I will come back about nine.
There is not likely to be any change. If there is, of course I must be
fetched."

"Have some refreshment, doctor," said the gentleman he addressed. "You
must not leave him."

Wearied out as he was, this was enough to irritate Chester.

"I am the best judge of that, sir," he said coldly. "Of course the
patient must not be left."

"That is what we all feel, doctor. Ask what fee you please, but you
must stay."

"Yes, yes; pray, pray stay, doctor," cried the lady in a pleading voice
which went to his heart.

"It is impossible, madam. I have others to think of as well as your--
friend."

He could not for the life of him say husband.

"I will be back about nine."

"Sir, we beg of you to stay," said the gentleman who took the lead,
earnestly.

"I have told you, sir, that I cannot. I must leave you now."

"No, no, doctor!" whispered the lady.

"Madam, it is not necessary for me to stay now. Silence, I beg. The
patient must be kept quiet."

"Yes--quiet," said the chief speaker. "Doctor, we have asked you not to
leave us; now we must insist."

"What! Why?"

"Because we decline to let you go till your patient is quite out of
danger."

"What!" cried Chester, sharply, over-excited by what he had gone
through. "Am I to be kept a prisoner?"

"If you like to call it so. Everything you desire you can have, but you
cannot leave here yet."

"Absurd!" said Chester, angrily, and as he spoke he saw that two of the
gentlemen present moved to the door by which he had entered. "I insist
upon going at once."

"You cannot, sir."

"Stand aside, sir, and let me pass!" cried Chester, sternly, as his
opponent moved between him and the door.

"Jem, for pity's sake"--whispered the lady. "Doctor, I beg, I pray you
to stay."

"It is impossible, madam, now. Let me pass, sir." There was a fierce
motion made towards the patient, but Chester did not heed it. He saw
that the other occupants of the room were closing him in, in answer to a
gesture made by the gentleman in front.

The spirit within him was roused now, and in his resentment he stepped
fiercely forward with extended hand, when his opponent thrust his hand
into his breast with a menacing gesture.